Wax strip and method of use



July 3, 1956 B. JANKELSON 2,752,681

WAX STRIP AND METHOD OF USE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 I N V EN TOR. fife/Mel) Jwvka so/v United States Patent 2,752,681 WAX STRIP AND METHOD OF USE Bernard Jankelson, Seattle, Wash. Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,639 2 Claims. (Cl. 32-49) The invention relates to improvements in the method and means used in dentistry as an aid in the marking of points of premature contact of opposing teeth.

Heretofo-re it has been a common practise for the dentist to use strips of the character of carbon paper, or relatively thick strips of wax for the above stated purpose. The manner of using a wax strip is to place it between the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth and bite thereagainst. The points of premature contact will perforate or will indent the wax. Upon removal of the wax, the dentist inspects the wax by holding it up to a light to determine, as accurately as possible, the points of premature contact. This is substantially a visual trial and error process. The prematurely contacting teeth are then ground down to the extent required.

The application of carbon paper strips for marking the points of premature contact is similar, in some respects, to the method of use of the wax strips of this invention. The marking of points of premature contact with carbon paper is automatically effected by the carbon under pressure of the bite.

There are various disadvantages and objections to the use of the Wax strips and also to the use of carbon paper strips for the present purpose. One of the objections to carbon paper strips is that, due to their fiimsiness, they are quite readily creased, or break and the resultant marking is not accurate or confined to the high points.

Further, because of the irregularity of the tooth sur face, the carbon paper often drags or slips across the surface as the teeth re closed together thereby producing a false or incorrect Also true or correct marks are sometimes obliterated because the tooth surfaces pierce the carbon paper and rub against the marking. The main objection to carbon paper, however, is the necessity for application of suflicient force to make the required mark. Even natural teeth are slightly movable but in artificial dentures, which rest on a base of movable tissue, the force applied often causes the bases to shift before the marking occurs. Due to these improper markings much unnecessary grinding down of the teeth results.

in view of the above mentioned and other disadvantages in the use of present day wax strips, it has been the principal object of the present invention to provide improvements therein that overcome the previously mentioned disadvantages and objectionable features without loss of any of the advantages, and results in more accurate marking, a saving of time, and eliminates unnecessary grinding that some times results from the inaccuracy in marking.

More specifically stated, it has been the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved method surface is applied: the adherence being to the extent that the strip will not become displaced from the teeth to be marked by the opening and closing of the teeth thereagainst. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates the provision of wax strips with the adhesive applied to one surface and if desired or required, a release agent is applied to its other surface so that it will not adhere to teeth that are not to be marked. The saliva in the mouth is an adequate release agent in most instances.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the specific details of the method and the construction of the strips and the mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction of the wax strips, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a wax sheet as divided into strips for the present use; broken loose from the pack and adhesive coated under surface.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the strips.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner of placing a wax strip between the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth preparatory to biting thereagainst to cause the points of premature contact to be exposed therethrough for marking.

Fig. 4 indicates the marking of the high points of the teeth as exposed through the wax. strip after the bite has been taken.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

Wax sheets may be made up in various sizes and then divided to form the individual wax strips, or if desired the wax can be made in ribbon strip form and pieces of required length cut therefrom at time of use. In Fig. l a wax sheet is designated by reference numeral 19; one stripbeing shown partly detached and bent back to show its adhesive coated under surface. Such individual strips of wax are preferably 28 gauge or about thick, 2 long and wide for easy use.

The wax strips previously used are Vs" thick and as distinguished from wax strips previously used, the present strip is relatively very thin and has one surface coated with an adhesive, designated in Fig. 2 by reference or greater release agent, preferably would be one that will adhere to both wet and dry surfaces. It can be applied to the sheets by painting or any other convenient means before the sheets are cut into strips. Likewise, the release agent is one that will not adhere to either dry or wet surfaces.

teeth to which this release agent on the opposite surface is not essential, but is desirable. To give contrast between teeth and wax, it is preferred that the wax be tinted, preferably in dark green, blue or black. The contrast between the dark colored wax and teeth facilitates the determination of the points of premature contact. It is also desirable that wax be transparent.

The method of using a wax strip of the present character for the intended purpose is as follows: The strip is applied between the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, as has been illustrated in Fig. 3. The adhesive coated sur face of the strip is placed against the teeth that are to be marked. The strip is then pressed into place over the teeth with the fingers. The bite against the strip is then taken to cause the high points of the teeth, or What are referred to as points of premature contact, to thin out or perforate the strip, as has been shown in Fig. 4. By use of a marking instrument, such as a sharp pencil provided for this purpose, the exposed, or more transparent high points are marked. The wax strip is then lifted from the teeth and the marked points are ground down in the usual way to the desired or required extent.

in the use of the present wax strip, the adhesive causes the strip to be retained securely in place after the bite is taken, when the teeth are opened apart and during the marking operation. The adhesive is not of a character that will cause difliculty in removal of the strip from the teeth after the high points have been marked. The release agent on the opposite surface insures that the strip will not be lifted up or caused to be displaced with the opening of the mouth by reason of any adherence to the opposing teeth that are not to be marked. Though a release agent is desirable, it is not necessary or required. I have determined that the saliva in the mouth and present on the teeth prevents adherence of the wax non-adhesive surface of the strip to a degree that would displace the strip from teeth engaged by the adhesive surface of the strip.

Strips of this kind have proven to be very satisfactory in use; their use results in the saving of time by reason of not requiring drying of the teeth, and the elimination of the strip pulling loose from the teeth that are to be marked by reason of adherence to opposing teeth. Also, the use of such a thin strip permits the accomplishment of the desired marking without requiring substantial pressure in the bite or relative horizontal movement of the teeth.

The release agent now being used on one surface of the wax strip is a detergent sold under the trade name of Antirox," an aromatic polyglycol ether. The adhesive used may be any one of many that is compatible to wax, and which will adhere to a wet or dry surface. At present, I am using a tacky wax.

The novel method of my invention produces more positive results in determining the points of premature contact. This greatly assists the dentist in that it saves time and in providing better and proper treatment for the patient. The wax strips are relatively inexpensive and the technique employed is very simple.

Though I have determined that a thin wax strip is the most satisfactory medium for accomplishing the desired results, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of a wax substance but may be accomplished by using any satisfactory substance which is relatively transparent and which may be impressed or penetrated by the points of premature contact. Such substances could be gelatin or a pliable, soft plastic.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of marking and removing points of premature contact on opposed irregular surfaces comprising placing a thin, penetrable strip of pliable material oi which one side is coated with an adhesive on one of the surfaces so that the adhesive engages the surface, pressing the other opposed surface against the strip to cause the points of premature contact to penetrate the strip, separating the non adhesive engaging surface from the strip and marking the portion of the adhesive engaged surface which is exposed through the strip, removing the strip from the marked, adhesive engaged surface and grinding away the marked portions of the surface.

2. A thin, impressible strip of wax or the like which is readily penetrable and which is adapted for use in dentistry to determine points of premature contact between occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth, one surface of said strip being coated with an adhesive whereby the strip will adhere to surfaces engaged by the coated surface and the other surface of said strip adapted to be directly engaged for the application of pressure thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,425 Burlew Aug. 18, 1925 2,633,637 Lucia Apr. 7, 1953 

